Device for producing illusory dramatic effects.



N.- BURGESS, DEGD. c. v. PALEISTEB. a; G.W -SWAN, ADMINISTRATORS. DEVICE FOR PRODUCING ILLUSORY DRAMATIC EFFECTS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25. 1908.

Patented June 27, 191 1.

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NEILSON BURGESS, 0F HIGHLANDS, NEW JERSEY; CLAUDE V. PALLISTER, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, AND GIDEON \V. SWAN, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ADMIN- ISTRATORS OF SAID NEILSON BURGESS, DECEASED.

DEVICE FOR PRODUCING ILLUSORY DRAMATIC EFFECTS.

To all whom it may concern:

I Be it known that I, NEILSON Bunenss, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Highlands, in the county of Monmouth and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Device for Producing Illusory Dramatic Effects, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the class of devices herein specified, and one object of the invention among others is to provide a device of this class having numerous novel features of advantage and utility.

A form of device in the use of which the above mentioned objects may be attained is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of my improved apparatus showing figures mounted thereon and a horse relatively located with respect thereto. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus.

In some forms of amusement, as in plays produced upon a stage or within a tented inclosure, horseback riding often forms an important feature, but in many cases it is impracticable, if not impossible, for persons taking certain parts, and in which the horseback riding forms a feature, to acquire the necessary skill important to the performance of such part.

By my improved device herein illustrated and hereinafter described, I have provided means whereby a realistic semblance of riding under actual conditions is obtained.

In the accompanying drawings the numeral 5 denotes an endless pat-h or platform mounted upon supporting rollers 6. This path, so far as the path itself is concerned, is of any usual form and construction common to what is known as tread-mills including slats 8 connected in a' manner common to devices of this kind, which crossbars or slats form the path upon which the object travels. The shafts 9 of the larger supporting rollers about which the path travels may be mounted in any desirable manner. This path as a whole is designed tobe arranged in an invisible posit-ion as beneath the stage of a theatre or tented inclosure, or beneath the ground of the latter, or scenery may be disposed to effectually conceal such parts. This path is of suitable construction to support an animal, as a Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 25, 1908.

Patented June 27, 1911.

Serial No. 440,301.

horse. Firmly secured at one side of the path 1s a post 11 made preferably from metal and of a size sufficient to support not only the objects to be mounted upon a saddle to be hereinafter described, but also to afford a support for the horse to define his position upon the path. A belly-girth 12 extends around the horse and is firmly secured to the post 11. This allows the horse free action so far as movement as in travelmg; is concerned, but restrains him from forward or backward movement and thus maintains him in the desired position.

The post- 11 at its upper end is firmly secured to a frame forming part of a padsaddle to be hereinafter described. Braces or stays 13 also secured to said frame extend downward and are firmly secured at the bottom. The relative arrangement of the post 11 and braces or stays 13 may be such as requirements may dictate, and the stays or braces may be disposed in any suitable manner and be of a numberto suit any special requirement.

What I term a pad-saddle 14 is secured at the upper end of the post 11 and this consists of a frame 15, preferably constructed of metal firmly secured to the post 11 and braces or stays 13. A table or platform 16 is located upon the frame 15, the latter being preferably of oval form as viewed in plan. The post 11 and stays 13 are of such length, as compared with the height of the horse as to locate the pad-saddle in close proximity to the back of the horse and in the position that such a saddle would occupy upon the horse, the dist-ance between the back of the horse and the saddle being merely enough to allow the horse free movement as in running, walking or other gait without touching the saddle. A fringe or other ornamental trapping 17 may depend from the saddle, and stage settings or appurtenances may be so disposed as to effectually conceal the braces, stays, posts, eto., supporting the pad-saddle.

The head and haunches of the horse projecting beyond the saddle at opposite ends and the horse assuming a traveling gait upon the endless path, an illusory effect is produced, in that it will not be readily per ceived but that the saddle is secured to the horse in the usual manner.

It will thus be seen from this construction that persons as performers may readily assume different positions upon the platform, and With little practice imitating the motions as though received from the horse, give a semblance of a riding exhibition.

It has been found by actual use of this apparatus that observers do not readily detect but that the performance is a real and genuine act and practically no skill and but little practice is required of persons to go through What appear to be the most difiicult feats of horseback riding and horsemanship.

I claim- 1. An illusory device including a traveling platform and a support mounted to overlie an object moving on the platform 1 and to sustain an object as if supported on the object moving on said platform.

2. An illusory device including a traveling platform and a support mounted to overlie the platform and an object movable thereon, said platform being arranged in close proximity to said movable object to receive another object as if supported on the movable object, said platform being disconnected from the movable object.

3. An illusory device including a traveling plat-form, a support arranged to overlie the platform in close proximity to an object movable on the platform but disconnected from said object, said platform having trappings common to those ordinarily used on said object and arranged to receive another object as if mounted on the movable object.

4. An illusory device including a traveling platform and a flat support mounted to overlie said platform and with its plane practically parallel to the plane of said platform, said support being arranged to overlie an object movable on the platform but independently of said movable object and to receive an object as if mounted on'the movable object.

5. An illusory device including a traveling platform arranged to support an animal and a support located over the platform in a position intermediate the length of an animal but in close proximity thereto, said support being disconnected from the animal and arranged to permit free movement of said animal thereunder and arranged to support an object as if mounted on said animal. V

6. An illusory device including a traveling platform, a support to sustain an animal thereon, and a table secured to the upper end of the support in a position close to said animal but arranged to permit free movement of said animal thereiuider said table being arranged to support an object as if supported by said animal.

7. An illusory device including a traveling platform, a support for an animal proi ecting over said platform, a post located in proximity to the platform, a table mounted upon the end of the post in proximity to said support, said table bearing the trappings common to a saddle usable upon an animal, and braces for said post and table.

8. An illusory device including a traveling platform, a post rising in proximity thereto, means for securing an animal to said post, a support mounted on the post and sufiiciently above the traveling platform to permit movement of said animal thereunder, braces for said support, and trappings to conceal said parts.

9. An illusory device including a travel ing platform, a post secured in proximity thereto, means for securing an animal to said post, a support secured to the post in posit-ion to permit view of the animal at opposite ends of the support and sufiiciently above the traveling platform to permit :movement of said animal thereunder, braces jfor said support, and trappings to conceal ,said parts. 4 NEILSON BURGESS.

Witnesses:

D. T. KREIMENDAI-I L. E. BERKOVITCH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

